The Tallinn IM Norm & Rating Group Tournaments 2026 will take place in Tallinn, Estonia, from November 4–8, 2026. The event combines a closed IM norm tournament with two separate classical rating tournaments, all held at Kreutzwald Hotel Tallinn.

The programme is built around 10-player round-robin competition and nine FIDE-rated classical games. The IM group is structured around an International Master norm opportunity, while Rating Groups A and B provide intensive rating competition for players with an existing FIDE rating.

All competitions use a classical time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move from move one. Registration for the Rating Groups remains open, while the IM Norm Tournament currently accepts reserve players only.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All groups use the same published classical time control:

90 minutes for the entire game + 30 seconds increment per move from move one.

The Rating Groups are played as 10-player round robins, with nine games for every player. The regulations allow the first 20 registered players who hold a FIDE rating to participate.

Those 20 players are divided into:

• Tallinn Rating Group Tournament A – 10 players
• Tallinn Rating Group Tournament B – 10 players

The organizer divides players primarily according to FIDE rating, with the aim of creating groups containing players of broadly similar strength.

The IM Norm Tournament also consists of 10 players and nine FIDE-rated classical games, with its field constructed around an International Master norm opportunity.

🏆 Prize Fund

The published Rating Groups regulations do not set a fixed cash total.

Instead, 50% of all Rating Group entry fees is allocated to the prize fund, and the top three players in both Group A and Group B receive prizes.

The entry fee is €50 per player. Therefore, if all 20 available places are filled, the combined Rating Groups prize pool would reach €500. However, the actual fund depends on the final number of paid entries.

No fixed cash prize structure has been reliably confirmed for the IM Norm Tournament.

👥 Sections / Groups

IM Norm Tournament

Players: 10
Rounds: 9
Format: Closed Round Robin
Time Control: 90+30
Rating: FIDE Standard
Purpose: IM norm opportunity

The IM group is built around the rating and title composition required for norm competition.

The current Chess-Results starting list already contains a complete 10-player field. Consequently, the organizer currently advertises registration only for reserve players for the November IM group.

Players interested in a future norm event can also contact the organizer, who is already accepting registrations for the January 2027 edition.

Rating Group A

Players: 10
Rounds: 9
Format: Closed Round Robin
Time Control: 90+30
Rating: FIDE Standard
Entry Fee: €50

Group A is formed primarily from the higher-rated players among the accepted Rating Group entries.

Rating Group B

Players: 10
Rounds: 9
Format: Closed Round Robin
Time Control: 90+30
Rating: FIDE Standard
Entry Fee: €50

Group B follows the same regulations and schedule as Group A. Final allocation between A and B is confirmed after registration closes.

📅 Schedule

The following timetable is officially published for Rating Groups A & B:

The IM Norm Tournament also runs from November 4–8 and consists of nine rounds. Players in the IM group should confirm the exact round timetable directly with the organizer before finalizing travel arrangements.

📝 Registration

Registration and enquiries are handled directly by FA Markus Hansson.

Email: mhanss@taltech.ee
WhatsApp: +372 56940112

Rating Groups

The entry fee is:

€50 per player

Participation is limited to the first 20 registered players who have a FIDE rating.

After registration closes, those players are divided into Groups A and B, primarily according to their FIDE ratings.

The organizer reserves the right to make justified changes to the composition of the groups depending on the number and ratings of registered players.

IM Norm Tournament

The November IM field currently has 10 players listed. Chess-Results therefore states that registration is presently open for reserve players rather than additional regular places.

Players should contact Markus Hansson directly for:

• reserve-list availability;
• future norm tournaments;
• applicable entry fee;
• payment instructions;
• discounted hotel accommodation.

The Finnish Chess Federation listing confirms that entry fees for the IM tournament depend on the player’s FIDE Elo.

👤 Organizer

Markus Hansson manages registration and player communication for both the IM norm event and the accompanying Rating Groups.

📍 Venue

Kreutzwald Hotel Tallinn – Endla tn 23, 10122 Tallinn, Estonia.

The tournament is played at the same four-star hotel throughout the November 4–8 programme.

The hotel is located in central Tallinn, close to the Old Town and the Estonian National Library. Freedom Square is approximately a 10-minute walk away.

Its central location is particularly convenient for a tournament containing several double-round days, since players staying at the venue can return directly to their rooms between sessions.

🏨 Accommodation

The organizer invites tournament participants to contact Markus Hansson for discounted accommodation rates at the playing hotel.

Staying at the venue is the most convenient option:

Kreutzwald Hotel Tallinn – Endla tn 23, 10122 Tallinn

Players should ask for the tournament-related accommodation offer before making an independent reservation.

Two additional nearby options are available for players who prefer to compare public rates:

These are public indicative rates rather than tournament offers and may change by November.

🚆 How to Get There

From Tallinn Airport

Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL) is approximately 5 km from Kreutzwald Hotel Tallinn.

The airport is very close to central Tallinn and is connected to the city by trams T2 and T4.

For the tournament venue, tram T4 is particularly useful because it serves central stops including Vabaduse väljak (Freedom Square). From Freedom Square, Kreutzwald Hotel is approximately a 10-minute walk.

A standard one-hour Tallinn public-transport ticket costs €2 and can be purchased with a contactless bank card at the validator.

A taxi from the airport to central Tallinn typically costs around €15 and is the simplest option for players arriving with luggage.

From Helsinki by Ferry

Tallinn has frequent ferry connections with Helsinki, with crossings generally taking around two to three hours.

Tallink normally uses Terminal D, while Eckerö Line and Viking Line use Terminal A.

Tram T2 connects the Old City Harbour area with central Tallinn. A taxi from the port to the city centre usually costs approximately €7–€10.

The tournament hotel is approximately 3.5 km from the passenger harbour.

From Tallinn Central Bus Station

Tallinn Central Bus Station is approximately 3 km from the tournament hotel.

City buses 23 and 67 connect the bus station with central Tallinn. Tram connections are also available from the Bussijaam stop.

International buses connect Tallinn with cities including Riga and Vilnius.

From Balti Jaam Railway Station

Tallinn’s main railway station, Balti Jaam, is approximately 2 km from Kreutzwald Hotel.

The station is beside the Old Town and is well connected by buses and trams. A taxi or short public-transport journey is the simplest option with luggage.

ℹ️ Other Information

Rating Groups Capacity: A maximum of 20 players is accepted for Groups A and B combined.

FIDE Rating Required: Players entering the Rating Groups must already hold a FIDE rating.

Group Allocation: The final A/B composition is confirmed after registration closes and is based primarily on player ratings.

Waiting Time: Players may arrive a maximum of 30 minutes late for a Rating Group round.

Rating Group Tiebreaks:

1. Head-to-head result
2. Sonneborn-Berger

Prize System: 50% of Rating Group entry fees goes into the prize fund, with the top three players in each group receiving prizes.

IM Registration Status: The current 10-player IM field is formed; registration is presently advertised for reserve players.

Rating Groups Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1487780.aspx?lan=1

IM Norm Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1479482.aspx?lan=1